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It’s been a while since I posted on this here blog, but I just finished facilitating a design thinking workshop and it left me feeling re-energized and with an awesome sense of creative confidence. I am very glad I was introduced to this process, and it makes my day when I get to share it with others. I’m felling pretty stoked, and will be facilitating another workshop on August 13.

The university, which pioneered massive open online courses, unveils two new homegrown software platforms to host the courses.

You can take any of these course completely for FREE. These course currently do not get you college credits, but it looks like in a not to distant future universities will give students college credit for completing MOOCs successfully. Will this take a big bite out of community colleges and their market segment?

Awesome little infographic for beginners put out by Educational Technology and Mobile Learning. Think of it as a glossary of terms. Also, bear in mind that the description of Instructional Technology given in this infographic is very simplified, and it only seems to refer to hardware and software. However, the description does not reflect what the profession and the field of study known as instructional technology are, so take that one as a simplified starter-description. Anyway, the rest of the chart should be pretty useful for anyone wanting to get started with speaking the lingo of instructional technology.

The nature of how teaching and learning is carried out is constantly evolving based on the ever-changing dynamic between multiple variables. Technology is perhaps the fastest evolving variable in a learning system. The advent of computers and the Internet have brought about drastic change to all facets of life, including education, and new technologies are being developed at lightning speed on a daily basis. Embracing web and media technologies for education requires a paradigm shift. Distance education is best achieved when it is learner-centered rather than teacher-centered. In this model the teacher becomes more of a guide on the sidelines rather than a sage on stage. The implication is that students are active participants in their own learning rather than passive listeners. This active learning approach enables students to “own” their newly acquired understandings.

Common Sense View Of Online Learning Environments

Learning Environments are Complex Adaptive Systems

It is useful to think of learning environments as complex adaptive systems that evolve constantly based on the interactions amongst the various agents within, and sometimes from without, the system. As a student, it is useful to have a basic understanding of the role you play within the learning environment (complex adaptive system) in order perform proactively and efficiently. This leads to being effective (success). Think of students as agents, of teachers as super agents with special abilities, and content and technology as special agents. Now think of all the ways the various agents interact with each other! Where do you fit in? How should you perform to live up to your role in the system?

Successful Distance Learners Tend To Have The Following Traits*:

Are highly motivated self starters

Are self-disciplined

Are hands-on learners who like to be involved in driving their own learning process

Have access to a reliable computer, and have a contingency plan in the event of technology failure (technology will fail at some point, don’t panic)

Have basic computer literacy skills, or are not timid about learning new technology

Are very adept at managing their time

Are able to work individually and as part of a team

Are able to perform candid self-evaluation

Have a can-do attitude

Do not worry if some of the traits just mentioned seem intimidating to you. What is most important in becoming a successful distance learner is that you have an open mind, are motivated to give it your best effort, and that you devote plenty of time to do the readings and assignments in your courses. This investment on your part will result in the achievement of those traits that will enable you to continue on successfully in you academic quest.

* This list is adapted in part from University of Illinois & the Illinois Online Network.

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As I am about to embark on my quest for an EdD in Instructional Systems TechnologyI find it not only relevant, but also necessary to begin logging my reflections as well as any new learnings I come upon in my academic and professional journey.

I intend to use this blog as a “personal” learning/reflection environment that is open to the world and welcomes thoughtful and respectful feedback, questions, suggestions, and commentary from similarly minded people. I have enclosed the word “personal” in quotation marks, because even though I have personal goals for this blog, it is open to the world, and thus it is also a public forum or community (assuming there is enough interest and external participation).

At this this time I am using the name “instructional design technology” because; a) I could not think of a catchier name, b) WordPress did not have available the other names I thought of, and c) because the title is reflective of my interests and the nature of the content you can expect to find in here.

I will do my best to provide citations in APA style when necessary, and will try to offer a translation in Spanish to hopefully get participation from Spanish-speakingacademics and professionals to hopefully enrich the conversations in here by bringing in international perspectives.

How Do Algorithms Predict Criminal Behavior? (Above the Noise/KQED) Host Myles Bess takes a deeper look at how algorithms are being used in the criminal justice system — and whether not computer programs make better predictions about criminal behavior than humans. Algorithms and Criminal Justice Reform It’s no Read More … Source:: DoNow Science